ORS 244.165: Rules or policies of state agency or association of public bodies; commission approval; effect.

(1) For the purpose of protecting against violations of the provisions of this chapter, a state agency, as defined in ORS 183.750, or a statewide association of public bodies, as defined in ORS 174.109, may adopt rules or policies interpreting the provisions of this chapter. The rules or policies must be consistent with the provisions of this chapter. A state agency or a statewide association of public bodies may submit rules or policies adopted under this subsection to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for review. (2) Upon receiving rules or policies submitted under subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall review the rules and policies to determine whether the rules and policies are consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The commission, by a vote of a majority of the members of the commission, shall approve or reject the rules or policies. The commission shall notify the state agency or statewide association of public bodies in writing of the commission’s approval or rejection. A written notice of rejection shall explain the reasons for the rejection. (3) Unless the applicable rule or policy is amended or repealed by the state agency or the statewide association of public bodies, the commission may not impose a penalty under ORS 244.350 or 244.360 on a public official for any good faith action the official takes in compliance with a rule or policy that was adopted by the state agency that the official serves, or by a statewide association of which the public body that the official serves is a member, and approved by the commission under subsection (2) of this section. [2007 c.865 §5; 2007 c.877 §39b]